Fitzgerald: FEC may have cleared Buchanan, but he has still failed voters

The Federal Elections Commission may have closed its investigation of allegations that U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan improperly raised some of his campaign contributions in 2006 and 2008.

However, his presumptive Democratic challenger in the fall says the FEC's decision does not mean the question of what exactly Buchanan did and his ethics are closed issues with voters in the 13th Congressional District.

Keith Fitzgerald on Tuesday afternoon responded to the posting on the FEC website of records in the case.

"I look at what Vern Buchanan has done with sadness and deep disappointment," Fitzgerald said in a statement released by his campaign. "Because whatever the final judgment of the FEC, Vern Buchanan has time and time again failed to live up the high standards we should demand of our elected officials.

"Vern Buchanan has been dogged by legal and ethical questions that bring dishonor to his office, distract him from his duties, and sew distrust between Vern Buchanan and the people of Southwest Florida."